4.5/5 - First of all of the cover doesn’t peak your interest or make you sad, then you need to check your emotional intelligence. 😉 Ellis and Lily make a formidable team with their inquisitive minds and the fact they won’t give up until they have their answers and feel that a wrong is righted.

This story begins with a cub reporter taking a picture that will catapult his career and it definitely does that but it also changes the trajectory of 3 lives: a mother, a son and a daughter. Lily is hiding her own secret and it makes her a bit more involved than perhaps she would be. Lily has her own aspirations of being a newspaper writer but she believes she has marks against her before she even tries.

I loved how the mystery unfolded and how even the subplots were connected where they didn’t seem like they would be. Ms. McMorris’s writing continues to be insightful, emotional and at times gritty.

Wow!! Just Wow!

Completely and utterly heart wrenching AND heart warming!!! This books absolutely CONSUMED me! I could not part with it until I knew the outcome. I’m still left in awe at how much this story hit my heart. That ending!!!! Tears!!

My first book by this author... absolutely won’t be my last. I am currently looking up more books by her and following her author pages everywhere. A new must read author for me.

I had such a hard time parting with this story, that I even had to read the authors note, twice. I needed to know more. So much love for this book.

SOLD ON A MONDAY by Kristina McMorris realistically portrays guilt brought on by success obtained by less than honest methods, while illustrating hope during a poignant time in our nation’s history within a riveting suspense.

Reporter Ellis Reed takes personal photographs while he’s sourcing a story he’s paid to write at the Philadelphia Examiner. Times are tough in the 1930s, but still, he’s baffled when he comes across two boys and the unbelievable sign in their front yard…

“2 Children for Sale”.

His mind is overrun with questions and the horror of it all. Ellis takes a few pictures while he’s waiting for his overheated car to cool down. This is a moment he won’t soon forget, but he doesn’t anticipate how it will design his future.

Lily Palmer, secretary to Editor in Chief at the same newspaper, has dreams of her own. When she discovers Ellis Reed’s photographs drying in the darkroom, she decides to slip them to the boss. He immediately requests a feature to go with the photo of the two boys, but this story doesn’t feel right to Ellis. Even with his misgivings, he can’t deny the opportunity a feature story will bring him. Of course, it doesn’t go as smoothly as expected and Ellis is forced to do more against his better judgement.

It doesn’t take long for Lily and Ellis to realize they’re responsible for a chain of events. Mobsters, an insane villain, plus more obstacles, lead Lily and Ellis on a chase to right a wrong. Will Lily and Ellis save the children, or will guilt be their constant companion?

This is captivating historical fiction from a reporter’s POV (point of view), as well as others in that business in the 1930s. Before I knew it, I was 21% into the story. Our thirties history is fascinating, with its speakeasies and gangster vibes, so getting it from the reporter’s POV is especially enthralling. The underlying story of a poverty-stricken family, and how Ellis and Lily are involved, is gut-wrenching. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Author Kristina McMorris threads guilt for one’s actions, their cause and effect, brilliantly. Ellis and Lily are flawed characters with heart who tantalize the reader to read faster to discover how they fix this mess, if it can be fixed.

I loved this story from the beginning. It has all the elements I crave with characters I cared about, and sometimes shouted at, appreciating their imperfections and how they add to the novel. Even though Ellis and Lily make huge mistakes, their hearts are in the right place at the end.

The newspaper and photography angle grabbed me from page one. Volunteering as a reporter at a young age, I fell in love with human interest stories and photography at the same time. Although my dream to become a feature writer, including telling stories through photos, never came to fruition, this novel made me realize how much those early dreams affect who we are today.

I still love to write and take photos, so the “what if” core of this novel spoke to me. Because it’s based on a real historical event made it even more poignant. The thought that anyone could or would sell their children touches a deep, emotional chasm in my heart. Of course, I didn’t experience the trauma of the Great Depression, but I saw it through my grandparents’ eyes. I can almost taste the coffee-soaked bread my grandfather and his siblings had for breakfast through his memories. I loved that this author included the inspiration for her story, but it still haunts me. How many more poverty-stricken children have stories to tell?

If you’re anything like me, you’ll download several more of Kristina McMorris’ novels after reading this one. I’m looking forward to THE EDGE OF LOST and BRIDGE OF SCARLET LEAVES. August 2018 new release SOLD ON A MONDAY is emotionally riveting suspense with a hopeful lining and a dash of sweet romance. Add in this emotive cover and who can resist?

Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. Rated 5 out of 5, Favorite! (I liked this book so much that I recommended it to my book club. I can’t wait to see how the discussion evolves.)

My Review of “Sold on a Monday” by Kristina McMorris. Sourcebooks Landmark, August, 2018

Kudos to Kristina McMorris, Author of “Sold on a Monday” for writing such an amazing, emotionally charged, riveting, captivating, intriguing and enthralling novel. The Genres for this story are Historical Fiction, Fiction, with a dash of Romance and Suspense. The timeline for this story is around the Great Depression. The author vividly describes the times and her colorful cast of characters. The Great Depression was a tragic and devastating part of history, and the challenges to survive were difficult. Can you imagine people having to sell their children, in order to live? What happened to these children?

The author describes her characters as complex and complicated possibly due to the dire circumstances and poverty and depression. People would read Newspapers, and for those journalists, there was competition. Men and women didn’t have equal roles. Ellis Reed, is a struggling reporter, that tries to replace a lost photograph, by staging a new one with children that are for sale. Never could he possibly dream, of the consequences of this act. Ellis has a dysfunctional relationship with his father, and does want to the the right thing.

Lillian Palmer also works at the Newspaper, and as a single mom, with loving support of her parents, she empathized with children that have been unwanted.

This story is based on such a photograph that was in the newspaper and opened the eyes of the nation. I appreciate that the author writes about family, emotional support, second chances, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this novel to those readers that love Historical Fiction. Kristina McMorris is a very talented author bringing her words to tug at our heartstrings. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

3.5 Stars* (rounded down)

It is 1931, and Ellis Reed, a reporter is searching for a story. In a photograph of children, standing on their front porch, he finds one. The sign beside them reads: “2 Children For Sale.” Ellis’ big break comes from writing a feature story about the photo, and when he goes back to interview the family, he discovers that they are gone. Ellis however, well, he needs that story - and so he stages one, almost an exact replica, of other children - and his career takes off from there and no one's the wiser or so he thinks.

Lilly Palmer is an administrative assistant at the newspaper, who got Ellis his big story. As it turns out she discovers Ellis’ secret, which has major ramifications. Lilly knows she shouldn’t get involved but she just can’t help herself and soon she and Ellis are in serious trouble.

“Sold on a Monday” was a quick, easy read. Though I enjoyed it, I was disappointed with where the storyline went almost from the beginning as the book wasn’t what I thought it would be, based on the synopsis. The characters of Ellis and Lilly were well developed however and drew me into their story as it was written.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Kristina McMorris for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review,

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 9.2.18.

Nicely written, engrossing depression-era historical fiction about a reporter's photograph of two children "for sale" that sets off an unforeseen chain of events. Recommended for fans of Orphan Train.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Kristina McMorris for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Set in the Great Depression, an ambitious young reporter, Ellis, is on another society page assignment when he happens upon two young children sitting outside a home holding a sign that read, "2 Children for Sale." He snapped a picture for his personal collection before leaving. A secretary at the paper, Lily, finds the picture in the darkroom, she slips it to her boss who then wants a story written. When someone accidentally ruins the negative, Ellis is forced to go back to the area to take another one. He ends up having to "recreate" the scene to get the shot. When the picture and article are published, it brings much attention to both the children and Ellis. The long-range implications of this decision change both Ellis and Lily and their lives. Both are also dealing with their own family issues and are faced with trying to right a wrong out of this situation.

An excellent read with such a sad situation at its core - what will we do to insure a better life for our children? - and one that too many faced in such desperate times.

I can't say enough great things about this book!! I heard the hype everywhere and I was afraid it wouldn't be able to live up to it!! Not true!! There is not enough hype for it!! I live in Allentown, PA which is right in the middle of where most of this book took place. So, there's that!! But it's the story!! Kristina is an absolute genius at storytelling. I can't wait to read all of her books!! I give it 10 out of 5 stars!!

I love Kristina McMorris’ writing, and was thrilled to receive this galley through Net Galley. I actually thought of the picture that this novel is based on as I’ve seen it, too, so I had the picture perfect (no pun intended) image in mind while reading. This is such a sad but moving story, reminding us that sometimes desperate people do desperate things. The main characters, Ellis and Lily, want to right the wrong that was done and put themselves on the line to do it.

I love a book that has self-forgiveness and redemption as a theme, and that ran throughout, culminating in a satisfying ending.

I follow Ms. McMorris on Facebook and she seems like a lovely and positive person. This is the second novel of hers that I’ve read – and it won’t be the last! Thank you for my e-copy!

Sold on a Monday, by Kristina McMorris is a story set in the 1930s. Its main characters, Lily, Ellis and Clayton work for a NYC newspaper. Ellis shoots a picture of a depression wracked family which needs to be reshot, and then sparks all the controversy of the story.

Everyone has a very stereotypical role for that era. Lily is a secretary with a deep secret, doing the 1930’s secretarial duties, while wishing to get noticed as a writer. Ellis is a feature writer and photographer, while Clayton is, well, Clayton.

There are misunderstandings, an orphanage, abused adopted kids, romantic pursuits, and cloak and dagger investigations. The reader will see the occasional use of 1930s cliched vocabulary words, such as “swell, joint, dough, pal, the mob,” which are oddly dropped in, and miss their mark to make you feel the story is written about that time period.

The pace quickly picks up from Chapter 26 to the end, allowing Lily a chance to show her stuff atypical of her 1930s female role. There is one difficulty after another which culminates in a predictable, if not satisfying, conclusion.

All in all, Sold on a Monday will make an easy book club read which will appeal to many.

Heartbreaking story that delves into a sad time in our country's history. What makes it worse, is that the premise is based on an actual picture taken during the Depression.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

A portrait of good and evil and the struggle to maintain your own set of morals in times of desperation. When Ellis Reed, an aspiring newsman, sees two children with a for sale sign on them, he takes their picture for his own collection. This innocent photo becomes the catalyst for misery and unintentional evil.

The photo gets published with a story exposing the desperation of ordinary humans in the midst of the great depression. Starving people who are driven to drastic measures for survival. When Ellis discovers the results of his published photo, he feels responsible and sets out to right the wrongs. Together with fellow newspaper woman, Lily Palmer, they track down the children seeking to return them to their biological mother. Something they assume will be an easy task.

They were wrong. Evil lingers in the middle of good deeds. A father tries to keep his wife from going insane, an inconsolable child cries for his mother, a farmer needs help with his fields, a desperate mother needs her children. Ms. McMorris paints a picture of sadness with characters that are believable. Her descriptions of the difficult decisions are heartfelt. I could empathize with the desperate, the ill, and the arrogant wealthy. This book brought the horrors of the great depression to life. But it could have been any time or place where desperation lives. A thoughtful portrayal of the choices we can make when faced with survival.

Being an ametuer photographer, the story intrigued me when I became aware of the historical photograph that depicted four children with a sign indicating the children were for sale taken after the stock market crash of 1929. Sold on A Monday, the imagined story of that family, was intricately woven and I felt deeply, whether positively or negatively, about all of the characters.

Imagine living in a time where people sold their children to survive. Imagine being a photographer who took a picture of said children. Imagine being the children who were sold and where their lives are now.
This book take you through this time we follow the photographer and a journalist as they look for these children to put make things right.
I could not put this book down it really made me think about the history of this and how many children are out there that this happened to.


** i received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Sold On A Monday was 110% what I needed after two books I wasn't that into back-to-back. Set during the Great Depression, a journalist takes a photograph of two children whose parents have no other choice: "2 children for sale" is posted on their front porch.

The consequences of this photograph are even larger than the journalist could have imagined, and the two main characters rush to try and fix the damage they have done. This book was inspired by a real photograph that the author came across. I loved getting to read this copy in advance (and in one sitting)!

This story was masterfully told, and I couldn't stop turning the pages through this high-stakes story. I wanted to hug every single one of the characters by the end of the book, and it left me wanting to track down everything else by Kristina McMorris.

Sold on Monday by Kristina McMorris is the first book I have read by this author. I was drawn in by the awesome cover. The cover just made me want to find out more about the child. I enjoyed this book but it was not what I was expecting to read about. I was expecting the story to be about the two children for sale but that was not what it was about it was more about the Great Depression . The story was well written and heart breaking and also heartwarming. It was a quick enjoyable read.

This was an excellent read, very engaging and well composed. I had no problem finding myself transported to time and place, which is always a sign of a strong descriptive ability. Definitely recommend.

So heart wrenching and at the same time so frustrating that such carelessness was taken in that newspaper story. I recommend this book.

I started sold on a Monday in the afternoon and had it finished by the evening I couldn’t put it down! It’s one of those books you find yourself thinking about even after I turned my kindle off! I found myself going into the book asking what would lead a mother to give up her children or sell them?? Sold on a Monday contains that theme but also a reporter investigating it as well. Sold on a Monday is set during an economic downfall in 1931 in Pennsylvania , where Ellis a reporter discovers and snaps a photo of a sign stating 2 children for sale. Snapping the picture sets in motion results Ellis had no idea would happen. During this time period orphans were sold to become forced workers, mobs control parts of cities. lily is the kind secretary that helps Ellis investigate his story after the children that he snapped a picture of are sold. He wants to know they are ok since he had a different set of kids hold the sign after his first picture was ruined and the second set of children were the ones sold and there mother is gone. The one quote that really stood out to me from the book goes like this. “Even when life’s downright lousy, most kids are still so resilient because..well I guess cause they don’t know any different. It’s like they only realize how unfair their lives are if you tell them. And even then, all they need is the smallest amount of hope and they could do just about about anything they set their minds to”.

A Goodreads friend had introduced me to Kristina McMorris’s works awhile back ago and I even added a few of her books to my TBR at the time, but unfortunately never got around to reading them – so when I found out that McMorris would have a new book out in August, I immediately requested an ARC (and happily got approved right away). Even without that though, taking one look at the cover made me already want to read this book. Honestly, who wouldn’t be moved even a little bit seeing a little boy on the cover, seated on the grassy floor, his head down, arms over his knees, waiting all by himself with a lone suitcase by his side, the title Sold on a Monday written right above him? As the saying goes, pictures speak a thousand words, and that cover picture, along with the ones described in the book (as well as the original picture in the Author’s Note which McMorris explains actually inspired this story), are ones I can’t stop thinking about. I don’t have any kids of my own, but I have an 8-year-old nephew whom I adore and absolutely can’t imagine living without, so it is unfathomable to me to think that a parent (or parents) could sell their children so willingly, regardless of the situation. Looking at those pictures, I was curious and wanted to know more – yes, I wanted to know the story behind the pictures, but beyond that, I wanted an explanation, one that would help me understand the heartbreaking scene in the photographs. Going into this book with these pre-conceived thoughts, I was expecting the story to be deeply emotional, despite the fact that I already knew this wouldn’t be the “real” story behind the original photograph, but rather a fictionalized version based on McMorris’s own research and interpretation.

Set in the early 1930s in Pennsylvania and later New York, against the backdrop of the Great Depression and its after effects, we follow society reporter Ellis Reed as he tries to scope out a satisfying story to earn his keep at the local newspaper he works for. While on assignment, he snaps a photo of two boys next to a slightly rundown house and only later notices the sign in front that says ‘2 children for sale’. It is this photograph that becomes the catalyst for the entire story, putting Ellis on a path of events that unfold in the most unexpected of ways. By his side is Lily Palmer, a young mother working as a secretary to the chief at the same noticeably male-dominated newspaper – she befriends Ellis and eventually becomes involved in his story after the haunting image of the children being put up for sale in the photograph triggers memories of her own past.

I was captivated with this story from the start. Compelling and well-written, this story is not simply about Ellis getting his big break in the cutthroat world of a fast-paced and often unforgiving newspaper outlet, nor is it simply about Lily’s struggle as an unwed mother who is trying to rise above society conventions and make a life for herself as well as her child. The story is more complex and through the fate of the children, leads us to an exploration of morality and ethics in journalism, but more importantly, pushes us to think about our own perceptions and biases as well as our natural tendency to judge others and at times formulate a quick opinion based on limited knowledge. McMorris did a really great job with the historical aspects of this story, with establishing time and place and relaying with vivid detail various aspects of the newsroom environment, as well as what was going on in society as a whole during that era. I also liked that McMorris tried to incorporate an element of suspense by ending each chapter with a cliffhanger of sorts, which kept me as a reader engaged and continuously turning the pages in an effort to find out what happens next and the eventual fates of the children at the center of the story – Calvin and Ruby – both of whom captured my heart from the beginning. Character-wise, both Ellis and Lily were well-drawn and were characters that I liked as well as rooted for – however for some reason, I found it difficult to connect with either character on an emotional level, which bothered me a bit. Perhaps I was just never convinced about Ellis and Lily’s relationship from the getgo, plus my focus from the beginning was on the story of the children, so the romantic element that was added, though not overwhelming, did become a little bit of a distraction. Therefore, while I enjoyed this book overall and it was a good as well as necessary read for me, I didn’t “love” it the way I thought I would.

Regardless though, I still highly recommend this one, as it is well worth the time – the insights into society as well as the newsroom politics during that era were wonderfully captured and the story itself also left me with some interesting food for thought. At the back of the book, there is a section entitled “A Conversation with the Author” where McMorris details some of the things that she considered while writing this book and one of things she said about truth in journalism that really resonated with me, but also makes this a very timely read given what we are going through currently in our society: “[I] think it’s really important to remember in today’s world of viral post and images and sound bites that we all bring our own perceptions to the table. And that inevitably these are skewed by our past experiences or even an unconscious desire to see what we want to see. More than ever, quick judgments based on those snippets, and certainly pushing the moral line in reporting, too often can have devastating consequences to others – as Ellis learned the hard way.”

Though this was my first time reading Kristina McMorris’s work, it certainly won’t be my last. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of her books at some point down the line, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Received ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley and Edelweiss.